Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pasay Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pasay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $924 in Pasay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,317 in Pasay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,711 in Pasay, rent included.

Manila costs about 5% more than Pasay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Pasay are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Pasay 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$4.89 ₱299

10.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$21.56 ₱1,320

21.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.17 ₱194

36.28%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.14 ₱131

23.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.57 ₱34.90

68.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.38 ₱22.96

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.03 ₱63.2

48.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$1.53 ₱93.7

78.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.91 ₱117

-0.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.26 ₱77.2

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.95 ₱58.0

14.74%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.96 ₱120

7.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$4.82 ₱295

88.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$4.24 ₱259

20.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$5.58 ₱342

49.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$4.33 ₱265

-19.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.57 ₱96.2

16.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.50 ₱153

46.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.64 ₱101

51.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.81 ₱172

-4.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$4.22 ₱258

-26.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.40 ₱85.5

42.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.99 ₱60.7

-29.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.12 ₱191

7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$7.84 ₱480

26.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.02 ₱62.2

42.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.20 ₱73.5

79.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.20 ₱12.24

155.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.68 ₱41.43

27.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.27 ₱16.68

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.08 ₱128

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.5

2.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$12.3K ₱750.2K

116.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$15.8K ₱968.5K

45.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$136 ₱8,317

$112 ₱6,858

21.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 ₱1,360

$32.89 ₱2,013

-32.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$29.71 ₱1,819

-7.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$35.53 ₱2,175

20.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$6.21 ₱380

7.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$363 ₱22.2K

$81.7 ₱5,002

344.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$2,835 ₱173.6K

300.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$32.18 ₱1,970

45.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$17.51 ₱1,072

97.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$85.2 ₱5,217

-2.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$70.8 ₱4,331

-34.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$402 ₱24.6K

21.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$306 ₱18.7K

-13.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$1,446 ₱88.5K

17.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$403 ₱24.6K

55.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$1,908 ₱116.8K

131.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$579 ₱35.4K

336.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$524 ₱32.1K

-6.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

-6.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for Pasay: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $402 in Pasay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Pasay, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila versus $22.00 in Pasay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $203 – making Pasay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Manila vs Pasay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $968 in Manila, $924 in Pasay – roughly 5% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,386 in Pasay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pasay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $968 in Manila and $924 in Pasay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $81.7 in Pasay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pasay, where all-in costs run around $924, than in Manila at $968. In Pasay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $924 in Pasay to $968 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pasay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.